![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/solar-energy-experiments-for-kids-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nMy daughter is getting VERY excited about her upcoming week at science camp!<\/a> In preparation for this amazing week-long summer camp, we are trying to get into the habit of “thinking like a scientist!” <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This week, we focused on solar science experiments and creative problem-solving. <\/p>\n\n\n As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A collection of solar science experiments<\/a> to try with your child in the backyard to encourage them to “think like a scientist!” <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We bought this great little kid pool for our backyard and filled it up with cold water right from the faucet. Our baby put his finger in and announced, “COLD pool” and refused to get in. Without filling the pool with water from our home heater, I posed the question: <\/p>\n\n\n\n How can we heat up water the fastest? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the solar experiment we decided would best help us answer this question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Materials Needed:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Directions.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you think my kids should do to heat up the water in their pool faster?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n * Parent tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A black background absorbs more heat than a light background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Covering the cup slows or stops evaporation. The plastic covering may also absorb some of the suns’ rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The kids were fascinated with warming the liquid with the sun and asked, “If the sun can heat up water, what else can it heat up?” They got to work building their own SOLAR oven using recycled materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Materials Needed: <\/b>(use recycled materials when possible!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n * Parent tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people have tried cooking hot-dogs, nachos are WAY easier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping a science journal is a great way to connect literacy to science!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now my kids were on a solar experiment role. “Hey, MOM, do you think we could make your tea with energy from the sun instead of wasting electricity to heat your water inside?” Sure kiddos, what will we need to do? <\/p>\n\n\n\n I love that they were thinking creatively, asking questions, and applying what they have learned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Materials Needed:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Directions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You could talk to your kids about the sun and have them make sun-prints. We used the solar sun print kit,<\/a> but should have just bought the re-fill package <\/a>($5.99 vs $10.49) as we just used the paper.<\/p>\n\n\nSolar Science Experiments for Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Converting Sunlight into Heat.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_2868.jpg\" "\\"\\"\/")
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Absorbing and Reflecting Heat: Solar Oven<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_2730.jpg\" "\\"\\"\/")
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My second grader found some black paper (the back was colored on) and started gluing it inside the box.
She then added in some tinfoil, predicting that the foil would reflect the suns rays and heat up her cheese better.
She covered the top with saran wrap in hopes it would heat the nachos faster.
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* THINK like a scientist!!!!*
A scientist will perform experiments over and over again to collect data and to figure out better and more efficient ways of doing things.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n![\"Think](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_2737.jpg\" "\\"\\"\/")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nSolar Heater: Sun Tea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"solar](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_2715-682x1024.jpg\")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/csyidio-cyanotype-kit.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/solar-cooker.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/sunprint-paper-kit.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSolar Prints<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/March.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/solar-eclipse-resources-for-kids-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Solar2BImagins2Bwith2BKiwi2BDoodle2BCrate.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Learning-about-Solar-Panels-with-Kids-.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![<\/a>](\"https:\/\/theeducatorsspinonit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/IMG_2715.jpg\"){kind=link}